An Easter Sort of Sunday Thought

As we flow through the Easter Season, here's a thought that might be appropriate to the Season.

Let's dive in with the whole Church thing. You know what's up with that, right? From the bottom to the top, somehow we've gotten infected. Whether you believe it's Modernists, Communists, Freemasons, homosexuals (or the varied selection of alphabet categories), or whatever other categories of heretics, apostates, and (in a best case scenario) sadly misguided souls, our clergy is riddled with bullets. Bullets? Yes, Satan has his gun. And he shoots straight. 

Now, before we hoist ourselves on our high horse and look down on those who have undermined our dear Holy Mother Church, let's remember that the same gun that shot the sheriff can, indeed, shoot the deputy. We're in Satan's cross-hairs just as our priests, bishops, and - dare we say it - popes, have been. And - if it's any comfort - the "have been" isn't just those infamous years since Vatican II (or since the Modernists rose from the mud in the late 19th, early 20th centuries). We can set our Time Machine all the way back to the years following our dear Lord's Ascension and find any number of unfortunate souls who have pushed away from the Kingdom of God toward - whether they know it or not - the River Styx. 

(Taking a deep breath.)

So how is this appropriate to the Easter Season? The short answer: Hope. And not just mere hope, but Holy Hope.

If just hope - as in we hope things change - then perhaps we're left a bit unsatisfied, no? After all, some of us may have been so hoping for, well, decades. And where do things stand today? No need for an answer.

But Holy Hope elevates "mere" hope from its natural camp to the supernatural. Our Lord's Resurrection brought us the perfect example of Holy Hope. 

In the midst of this Vale of tears, all of us have moments - some more than others - where things can appear "hopeless." Again, on the natural level, these items ultimately work themselves out. Some resolve happily, some not-so.

But there's one "hopeless" that none of us should accede to: the thought or feeling that our salvation is hopeless. Or perhaps something not so dire, that there's no hope of us becoming saints while we live and breathe here on earth. 

The Resurrection brought us the sort of hope - Holy Hope - that can counter all of this.

Think about it: Jesus Christ rose from the dead. He overcame death. And He didn't do this for Himself. He didn't need to. He was both man and God.

But we're simply men. Despite what the serpent told Eve, we're not gods, as is God. Here we are, struggling with our fallen human nature to overcome the effects of the Original Sin of our First Parents. And in that struggle, our vision can be distorted at times. Heaven may appear out of reach.

And for some of us, we may even be blinded - at least for a bit. Heaven may even seem not to exist.

But Holy Hope, a supernatural gift from God, will restore our minds and quell any emotions that accompany such thoughts. The Resurrection of Our Lord assures us that eternal life - and a happy one at that - remains in our grasp, even in our darkest hour or hours.

The Light that burst forth from His temporary grave on that first Easter morning shines still. Despite ourselves, it has never even flickered. And this Easter Season, if we keep ourselves recollected and seek it, graces will flow in abundance to convince us - forever - that we can, and should, hope to overcome death as did Our Lord.

Thus any thoughts or feelings of hopelessness, even our physical death, cannot keep us from joining in His Resurrection someday.

As for all that's gone on in Holy Mother Church in recent decades, we can't dismiss it all of course. The blow has occurred. And those who caused and continue to hold on to it clings desperately to what ultimately has been the work of the Devil. But with the Hope that burst upon us when Christ rose from the dead, we are assured that this too will pass. 

When it all passes - whether before or with the end of time - is not our concern. We simply stick with Christ and His Holy Hope.

 

Happy Easter!